Have they gone yet?

[FionaH]

Cabbage whites? You reckon its safe to un net the brassicas now? I dont have much of a problem with pigeons so could I leave em nekkid?

[sweetiepea]

It may be different in you neck of the woods, but up 'ere they seem to have gone. Their little darlings however are NOT and are still munching everything GRRRRRRRR!

[FionaH]

Thanks think I will take the mesh off this afternoon then

Good luck with the caterpillars SP

[FoxHillGardener]

They're still flapping around here. and so are the pigeons

[lottie dolly]

we seem to have the things all year

[ginger ninger]

Not seen any for a while here, ticked of with the slugs though

[rana]

Forget about the cabbage whites - it's the whiyefly you should be worrying me about!

[bluemoon]

Whitefly are a pain, they descend in droves and there are times in winter when our lotties look like they're under a blanket of fog (usually on a Sunday morning, because they've been disturbed when the sprouts and cabbages are picked for lunch), but actually they don't seem to do much damage and I never do anything to clear them. The cabbage whites have gone from here and the local pigeons, who can massacre a newly planted brassica bed in minutes, don't seem to bother with more mature plants until they can't find food anywhere else, which is often not until the end of January. My sprouts, savoy cabbages and PSB have been uncovered for about a month now, but the spring cabbages will stay undercover until they are harvested.

[selfraising]

I was wondering the same thing and was just about to remove the netting when a cabbage white flew into the garden as if on cue, so I'm hanging on for a bit.

[FionaH]

Well I have taken the netting off now. If everything gets mullered by whitefly and pigeons I will know for next year!

[zazen999]

Why are you taking it off Fi; I'm leaving mine on until the crop if completely done, as not only does it protect against the dreaded CW but it creates a warmer microclimate which can help to keep them cropping and regrowing during winter.

[Jeanied]

Up at the lottie today - at least 3 cabbage whites flitting away... just thought you'd like to know as I'm not a million miles away!

[FionaH]

Why are you taking it off Fi; I'm leaving mine on until the crop if completely done, as not only does it protect against the dreaded CW but it creates a warmer microclimate which can help to keep them cropping and regrowing during winter.

Cos the spring cabbage is getting too tall for my hoops!

I was wondering the same thing and was just about to remove the netting when a cabbage white flew into the garden as if on cue, so I'm hanging on for a bit.

Up at the lottie today - at least 3 cabbage whites flitting away... just thought you'd like to know as I'm not a million miles away!

Hmmm guess what tomorrows job is, putting the stuff back on!
Live and learn

[zazen999]

I've just been up and put nets all over all my unripe beans and over one courgette as the frost warning said 4deg tonight....I've brought back a bucket full of beans in their jackets to leave to dry off but some just were not ripe yet. Hoping that the nets keep them warmer and they ripen quicker.

No idea yet exactly where I'm going to put them all. Also took 10 leek seed heads off and need somewhere for them to go until they dry out......and about 5 summer squashes that need eating - it's like a greengrocers in our house at the moment.

[rustylady]

Keep the netting on. They're sneaky little buggers.